Falmouth Institute/American Indian Report Blog

Thank you SO MUCH for making this transcript avail...

2009-11-06T16:17:27.977-05:00

Thank you SO MUCH for making this transcript available for us to read. I have a smile on my face!!!

I am an American Indian and a resident member of t...

2009-11-06T14:15:05.817-05:00

I am an American Indian and a resident member of the Middletown Rancheria, located in Middletown California. I am the Indian Child Welfare Act Director for my tribe. Living here and working with a variety of local, state and federal agencies bring with it a constant disappointment, that is, the non-Indian world has forgotten, or may not understand, why American Indians are different than other ethinic groups here in the United States. Everytime I meet with new agencies I hear the same feedback, " I understand how you people feel, and I'm just like you!" or "I didn't do anything to your people, trust me!" How can these agencies ever create a Performance Improvement Plan including services to Native Americans, if they don't understand why the services are needed in the first place. I think the intent is a good one by the White House, but I don't think a mandate actually educates. Without us having a chance to give input, the new policies will be created based on the individuals limited knowledge of Native Issues, againg it will miss the intended mark.

I'm not an American Indian, but am working for Tri...

2009-11-06T13:21:26.095-05:00

I'm not an American Indian, but am working for Tribal Health Clinic in Wisconsin, and I'm so glad to see that President Obama has been gradually taking some steps to improve the healthcare and education of Native Americans and Alaska Nations. Although much belated, it's encouraging. American Indians should be given 100% health coverage, and more opportunities for their education.

Very nicely done. Thank you!

2009-11-06T12:47:36.506-05:00

Very nicely done. Thank you!

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2009-11-06T05:18:04.810-05:00

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Will the president even see these comments people ...

2009-11-05T16:27:41.547-05:00

Will the president even see these comments people have shared or these comments going to be censored. Some of comments are what people have expereinced. Do some of Tribal officials have the same shared concerns as the PEOPLE do?

As history was and is verbally told, the Treatys w...

2009-11-05T16:17:32.462-05:00

As history was and is verbally told, the Treatys were never honored. The tribal land base was never the First Peoples land base. The language, and traditional way of life was taken," give it up or go to jail" was the law.Are we as the the "First People of this country going to request to President Obama, to retrieve all this back.Our languages are almost all gone, our elders were the law of our land, because they were the ones who knew all the past history. They knew all the ways of survival, now we as modern day Natives of this country only know english and modern day technology. If we don't have an education then we are homeless and without. The BIA makes sure we know that we do not own our lands, we are only care-takers.My prayers are for equality, and the ability to be proud of my self identity.Education for our Children , in both their worlds, which will empower them with their self- identity and the ability to function in the now world.

What most non-native American people don't underst...

2009-11-05T15:49:12.960-05:00

What most non-native American people don't understand, is that the original inhabitants of this country the Native Americans don't want a handout, we just want fair treatment. We want our Constitutional rights just like any other American citizen wants. We expect the Federal government to honor the treaties or agreements made with all Tribes or Nations.

I pray that our Tribal Leaders and President Obama...

2009-11-05T12:08:54.964-05:00

I pray that our Tribal Leaders and President Obama will acknowledge and pledge to care for all of the Tribal members who make up our tribes. Most Indian people live in rural,urban, and suburban counties now and not on reservations. Look at the school data. That tells much of the story. Why should enrolled members of tribes be denied health care,education,housing,senior services,food,etc. because of where they live. If a U.S. citizen moves from New York to California, they do not lose their citizenship. American Indian children should not be starving and homeless just because they live in a city or across the road from their reservation.

The listening session last week in St'Paul, was en...

2009-11-05T11:17:15.103-05:00

The listening session last week in St'Paul, was enlighting, I ask the creator to lend and open ear to the President and let the Indian Nations of American have direct funding from Washington D.C. Instead of giving the funding to the state, the tribes only get what the state decides to give them, As far as BIA it does not work for the Northern Regions of United States, the OJS is very rude to our Council.

We'll see if we can get a list and post it on the ...

2009-11-05T09:02:05.443-05:00

We'll see if we can get a list and post it on the blog. Check back in an hour or two.

Is there a list of Tribal Reps?

2009-11-05T08:58:01.158-05:00

Is there a list of Tribal Reps?

Im just sadden that the person who will be represe...

2009-11-04T19:06:05.116-05:00

Im just sadden that the person who will be representing our village tribal council is the same person who do not support the whole tribal members. Too bad we did not get a heads up on who to send over to represent us.

I don't see why our tribal representatives need to...

2009-11-04T18:32:56.567-05:00

I don't see why our tribal representatives need to go to Washington DC to meet the president, our needs is here on the reservations. We need them to come out and see the people and what our needs are. We have concerns and who not to talk to them but here on our land, not theres.

"...even despite the horrendous economic travesty ...

2009-11-04T17:51:50.275-05:00

"...even despite the horrendous economic travesty that President Obama is perpetrating on us." Seriously? How can one man do this to us during his short tenure? What about the guy before him and so on? Blaming others for your financial woes makes you a slave to your own destiny. And, using govermental handout programs doesn't make the First Nations great, rather a bit socialistic! Taking responsibility for ones own thoughts and actions make people great.

If the President wants to help the Indian Nations ...

2009-11-04T16:40:10.230-05:00

If the President wants to help the Indian Nations than he should honor the treaties. Give back the land that was taken fron the Indians and put under the BIA without the Tribes having to pay again for what is theirs.

The first real GOOD DEED that the government did for the Indian Nations was to grant Casinos on Indian land. Now that Casions are sussesful they want to put limits on the Tribes. Obama has it within his powers to exclude Indian Casinos from the NLRB control. Let him step up to the plate and allow the Indians to control their own destiney and their business to provide for their members.

Why don't we raise money and awareness for the hum...

2009-11-04T00:34:07.303-05:00

Why don't we raise money and awareness for the humanitarian crisis in Indian Country?
The cutbacks in the state budget have created profound financial shortfalls for California Indians.

i am a member of the piqua shawnee tribe, bear cla...

2009-11-03T17:34:17.738-05:00

i am a member of the piqua shawnee tribe,
bear clan chief and storyteller.
this web page has made appreciated because
our native people are getting time to show
our way of life,and how to protect mother earth

jerry mcclure

In most jurisdictions worldwide, gambling is limit...

2009-10-31T16:27:32.075-04:00

In most jurisdictions worldwide, gambling is limited to persons over the age of license 18 or 21 years of age in most of the United States and 16 to 21 in most other countries where casinos are permitted

Does this law apply only to California tribes? Or...

2009-10-29T14:59:20.489-04:00

Does this law apply only to California tribes? Or to any Indians of whatever tribe living in California?

"We need independency in order to become great." ...

2009-10-28T11:54:45.931-04:00

"We need independency in order to become great."

The United States of America continues to be the most prosperous of all nations on the earth, with a production output that floors all others, even despite the horrendous economic travesty that President Obama is perpetrating on us (though he may yet succeed). It is incredibly naive to compare the prosperity of the citizens of the USA to the likes of China, Brazil, Egypt, and the Arab Nations, which have significant portions of their populations living in almost medieval conditions - such an assertion is positively surreal. The poorest of Americans and First Americans live as kings compared to many in those countries. Even compared to Japan and Israel, who in this country would truly want to trade his standard of living for theirs?

To become great the First Nations need to exercise the independence and freedom they already have, stop offering themselves up into slavery by bowing down at the altars of socialism and kissing the feet of the high priests of entitlement - Obama, Kennedy, et al - selling their once free souls into slavery.

The First Nations were endowed by the Creator with the rights of Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. The Constitution of the United States of America guarantees those rights to its citizens, even its First Citizens. But they have to exercise those rights to enjoy them. Unfortunately too many of them already have relinquished their spirits into slavery.

Awake! Rise up from the dust! Stand as Men! Cast off the shackles of sin and dependence! Your greatness lies within you as children of the Creator Himself. If you think your greatness lies with Obama, then you are destined to remain in slavery. But that is not your destiny. You will yet blossom as a rose and become a scourge to tyrants and petty tyrants who seek to sap away your liberty with the soma of socialism and godlessness.

We the citizens of the United States of America no...

2009-10-27T14:24:55.273-04:00

We the citizens of the United States of America now have a President who could bring the First Nations to the table with other Nations of the World to discuss working with one another. Prosperous Nations such as Israel, Japan, China, Brazil, Egypt and the Arab Nations who can assist all the Native American population to a better life. The United States no longer controls this country--it is under the control of other Nations we all know that. We need to take a stand this round while President Obama is in. We need independency in order to become great.

That sounds good to me...new technology is always ...

2009-10-17T08:21:07.418-04:00

That sounds good to me...new technology is always welcome and that is also a sign of advancement.

What would really be refreshing is to hear one of ...

2009-10-16T14:11:05.955-04:00

What would really be refreshing is to hear one of these tribal representatives tell the President that it's not his job to "meet their needs", but that it is his job to execute only those presidential powers which are enumerated in the Constitution, one of which is to execute the treaties - as they are laws of the land - according to their original intent. Indian Country does not need Big Daddy Obama or any other president, senator or congressman to take care of them or to "improve their lives." If Government wants to do anything let it 1) cede all lands and property out of BIA trusts and back into the respective tribal incorporations, and 2)HONOR THE TREATIES as they were originally intended. Quit trying to seduce the tribes with ever more pig tits of public entitlements that sap away the will to be free and to exercise liberty. Tell the president to protect the borders, defend against enemy attack, execute constitutional laws, honor treaties, and then to leave the Tribes and their proud peoples to pursue happiness as they see fit, according to the dictate of their own hearts - if they still have them.

Whether rhetoric will translate into action remain...

2009-10-16T12:20:20.949-04:00

Whether rhetoric will translate into action remains to be seen. Serious times require serious action.